Rashard’s free agency

According to Peter Vecsey of the New York Post, Rashard Lewis’ agent, Tony Dutt, did not file the paperwork between the two agreed windows with the NBA for Lewis to be a free agent. Here is the story.

But Sonics spokesman Tom Savage insisted Lewis is a free agent. “It is clear with the Sonics and with Rashard Lewis that he is a free agent. Things are the same as they were 24 hours ago. Rashard is a free agent.”

There have been instances in the past where players were not given free agency or did not receive extensions or contract kickers because agents did not file paperwork in time. The most notorious case is of former Miami Heat guard Anthony Carter, who had a player option to remain another year in Miami but his agent did not file the paperwork and he became a free agent.

It was Lewis’ choice to opt out of his contract, so the Sonics would have loved for the small forward to play out the remaining two years of his contract at $21 million. But it looks like that won’t be happening without a new contract.